Wise Company Issues Its Own Press Release

In response to a press release issued last week by Mountain House (Oregon Freeze Dry), Wise Company issued its own press release today seeking to set the record straight regarding oxygen and moisture content in its pouches. As we have said since the inception of this website, it is not our job to take sides; but rather, to present all the information and let you decide. Here is the text of that press release:

Mountain House, a supplier of emergency and outdoor foods, issued a press release on July 12, 2012 targeting a single competitor: Wise Company. Why attack Wise Company when Mountain House has dozens of other competitors? Because Mountain House is now launching a new bucket and pouch line designed for emergency preparedness very similar to a product that has been a specialty of Wise Company since their inception.

Wise Company has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years with its emergency foods packaged in pouches capable of lasting up to 25 years. During this time, Mountain House has claimed that food pouches have no more than a 7-year shelf life. Now, in conjunction with the launch of its new product line, Mountain House has changed its story and claims that pouches can achieve a 25-year shelf life!

Wise Company takes great pride in providing high quality emergency food with a long-term shelf life. The Mountain House surprise attack relies on a lab study commissioned and presumably paid for by Mountain House. Notably, Wise Company’s existing quality testing and data show oxygen levels in its products lower than those alleged by Mountain House.

Wise Company’s raw materials and finished goods contain very low moisture levels. The extreme low moisture content contributes to product stability. Wise Company product is then packed in ultra-high barrier (UHB) packaging with a very low oxygen transmission rate as well as a very low water vapor transmission rate (WTR). Once sealed, Wise individual pouches are stored in durable plastic containers. These elements, along with proper storage and temperature, are essential to providing consumers with quality products capable of lasting up to 25 years.

“We take our obligations in this industry very seriously,” said Brian Neville, president and CEO of Wise Company. “We have confidence in our food pouches standing the test of time.”

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1 review for Wise Company Issues Its Own Press Release

Mountain House – July 18, 2012:

“The Mountain House surprise attack relies on a lab study commissioned and presumably paid for by Mountain House. Notably, Wise Company’s existing quality testing and data show oxygen levels in its products lower than those alleged by Mountain House.”

A quick clarification:

Mountain House has extensive in-house analytical capability and conducts rigorous ongoing testing of our products to ensure quality and consistency. Even so, we retained an unbiased 3rd party laboratory that specializes in food to test 30 packages each of Wise and Mountain House and to report the O2 levels all 60 pouches, by flavor. A detailed chart can be found here:

While Mountain House paid for the study (independent labs require payment for services performed, it turns out), we had no influence over the scientific measurement of the oxygen in the pouches.

And a question:

Wise notes that they have data demonstrating lower oxygen levels than those found by Columbia Food Laboratories in the 30 samples — purchased online and shipped in original sealed containers — that they tested.

Will Wise be publishing unbiased studies performed by an independent 3rd party food laboratory?